How to Remove Lube from Sizing Dies?

[Bill Vernon]

I have a number of sizing dies that a covered with cold and hot lube. Wondering anyone has a quick way to remove the lube. I melt it off nos, but it is difficult and takes a lot of time. Thanks

[dilly]

You could just boil the dies all in one batch.

[billyb]

a soak in mineral sprits

[mattw]

I hold them with pliers in front of the shop heater, lube gone in 45 seconds flat. If they are not the type with an o-ring, I do it with a propane torch.

[Nueces]

Put 'em in the freezer to make the lube brittle. Take 'em out and put 'em in your little brother's armpit. The hollerin' will shatter the lube.

[pworley1]

Ed's Red

[retread]

The best solvent I have found for lube is WD-40. Really cleans the stuff off quick.

[Dusty1234]

I had to clean my dies a few days ago, I put them in some diesel fuel. That did the trick for me.

[Vulcan Bob]

I used a hair dryer to melt the lube out of a lubrisizer cant see why that wouldn't work here.

[Bill Vernon]

Thanks, everyone for some good ideas! Bill

[theperfessor]

Hi Bill - Welcome to the forum.

If I can't get the ejector pin out (the "I" part) I throw the die into a bucket of kerosene and let it soak for a few days. (I have used a hydraulic press sometimes to speed up the process!) Use a toothpick to poke out the dried schmutz in the lube holes. A brass toothbrush and a brass borebrush for the outside and inside, sometime a little steel wool helps.

Stay away from abrasives unless you WANT to change the size and/or surface finish.

[1Shirt]

I have boiled out dies for many years because it works well for me.
1Shirt!

[DeadWoodDan]

ok, this may be a rookie question but why would you want to remove the lube? should be good to go for next use..

[EdS]

I place the die(s) in a clean, empty soup and cover them in water. Place the soup can in a pot and add water to match the height of the water in the soup can. Place on stove and bring pot to a low boil. Heat will transfer to the water in the soup can, melting the old lube. Remove die(s), dry and oil. Discard water in the soup can, and the can. Wife remains happy that her pot was not "soiled". Works for me! -Ed

[rodsvet]

I just use pliers and a cheap Harbor Freight heat gun. Just be careful and you won't even damage the O ring. Takes 1 minute, then wipe off die and put away.

[Bill Vernon]

Thanks for all the replies, I'm going to try a few different ideas. I have about 60 dies that need to have the lube removed. I'll post my findings on here. Thanks again! Bill

[Garyshome]

Auto Brake cleaner

[WALLNUTT]

Boil em outside in some kind of old pot or bucket.

[zuke]

Freeze,tap to chip off lube then place into solvent

[downwind]

Put 'em in the freezer to make the lube brittle. Take 'em out and put 'em in your little brother's armpit. The hollerin' will shatter the lube.

As someone with two brothers, I totally get it!! That's funny